One-third of foreign aid goes to Kathmandu and adjecent districts

Kathmandu, Jan. 17: Major chunk of the assistance from the International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) has been mobilised in the Kathmandu valley and adjacent districts rather than the districts in the mid and far-west hills that have more poverty as well as poor health and education services.

About 60 million USD, 32 per cent of the total INGO disbursement USD$ 168.39 million, has been mobilised in the eight districts in and around the Valley, shows the recent Development Cooperation Report 2017 published by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

According a report of the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) the same area contributes to about 45 per cent financial activities in the country.

Highest number of projects and amount is implemented in Sindhupalchowk district where 56 projects of various INGOs are in operation and they mobilised $23.23 million whereas Kathmandu has the highest number of programmes by them.

In terms of the size of the amount disbursed to the district, Dhading, Nuwakot, Makwanpur and Kathmandu are the top five receivers with 42, 39, 36 and 55 projects respectively.

But, the districts with poor Human Development Index, education and infrastructure have very small INGO contribution.

According to the report, districts like Baitadi, Bajura, Dailekh, Dolpa, Kalikot and Jajarkot have only 7-9 INGO programmes with an average of $ 1 million mobilization to each.

Districts, projects and money mobilised by INGOs

District	Projects	Amount ($)
Sindhupalchowk	56	23.23 million
Nuwakot	39	6.85 million
Makwanpur	36	5.26 million
Lalitpur	41	4.43 million
Kavrepalanchowk	46	4.28 million
Kathmandu	55	5.24 million
Dhading	42	8.95 million
Bhaktapur	32	1.61 million

Source: MoF

The MoF said that the volume of aid disbursement from the INGOs core funding had sharply increased from US$ 169.39 million to $186.53, and overall contribution made through them had been encouraging.

The sharp increase was due to the increasing number of INGOs engagement in the post-quake reconstruction and awareness.

But a senior officer at the ministry said that the INGOs are not working as per the country's national need rather trying to implement the programme of their own interest as a result most the INGOs are centred around the capital city. They don't want to go to the districts with low human development indices.

"There is weakness in the part of the government, too. It doesn't force the INGOs to work as per the national and local need rather has left them to work on their will," he said.

Experts also point to the need of a policy to guide the INGOs to mobilise their fund to the areas that need to implement certain kinds of programmes.

Among the INGOs active in Nepal, Save the Children had the highest disbursement volume with $66.08 million through 87 projects, followed by World Vision International with $ 23.76 million, Plan Nepal with $9.30 million, and Fairmed with 48.63 million.

Likewise, major areas of INGO engagement are health, education, livelihood, women, children and social welfare, and earthquake reconstruction. These sectors received $ 64.37 million, 31.24 million, 20.10 million, 18.29 million, and 14.54 million respectively.

Other areas of INGO interest are drinking water, housing, agriculture, peace and reconstruction, local development, and environment, science and technology.